Bishops' move: answered prayers, my ass!

It is not Benjamin Abalos’ resignation that strikes me the most among today’s newspaper stories.  It is the relieved reaction of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines saying Abalos’ resignation is their answered prayer.

            Did Their Graces mean they only prayed that he resign and, in so doing, douse this raging controversy?  Why haven’t they prayed that Abalos tell all he knew so we are enlightened with the truth?  Did they forget there were others besides Abalos implicated in all these?  Joey de Venecia said he was shouted at by Big Mike Arroyo to “Back off!”  Romulo Neri said he talked to gloria but refused to divulge their entire discussion, indicating something that should be kept from the people.

            Are these bishops agents of truth?  Or are they agents for the interests of the current dispensation? 

            Ako, gusto ko nang sumambulat ang lahat kesa naman paulit-ulit tayong binibiktima nina Mike Arroyo! Pekeng katahimikan itong lahat!

            Surely, Abalos’ resignation is a step in the right direction.  But therein lays the rub.  While he salvages what remains of his honor, this move may potentially douse the raging fire.  Alam niyo naman tayong mga Pinoy—madaling makalimot.  His resignation means that the impeachment complaint filed against him in the House of Representatives is dead in the water.  It might even be enough to deflect the flak directed against the First Family.

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It was a grand performance for Abalos yesterday.  He shed copious tears in announcing his resignation.  With his family behind and his noisy supporters cheering him it was infinitely better than the “I am sorry” travesty two years ago.  To think Abalos did not have an award-winning film director to orchestrate it all!  Magaling siya, huh!

            I feel for Abalos’ wife, children and grandkids.  I am sure, masakit yun para sa kanila.  But I don’t feel anything but revulsion for the person.  Summoning his immense facility with argumentum ad miserecordiam I simply can not identify with the guy he described as the victim of “vicious and malicious” attacks.

            It is not all me, I think.  I just happen to believe Neri and De Venecia are telling the truth about him.  And if, as De Venecia disclosed, the Chinese already gave advances to Abalos, he is not the victim at all.

            And even if Abalos, as he insists, is innocent of the charge, 99.9 percent of Filipinos are poorer compared to him and 99.9 percent of all Filipinos are suffering gloria’s reign he helped bring about in the 2004 elections.  And let’s not forget Comelec’s botched billion-peso computerization program under his checkered watch.

            Tayo, hindi siya, ang kawawa.